Review: Quantum of Solace

Quantum of Solace (2008)
This movie is exactly as you should expect it to be. However, it probably won't be what you actually expect it to be. Casino Royale raised everyone's expectations for the Bond flicks as a most successful reboot of the previously-stale franchise.

Unfortunately, Quantum of Solace is not quite as good. It falls noticeably short of its predecessor. However, to be fair, for a Bond film it is still highly enjoyable. It does everything it is supposed to. Big explosions, great locations, hot women, easily-defeated enemies, high-tech gadgets, and a slimy bad guy. There are fight scenes on every mode of transport but a train and a pedal bike.

And, the great thing about the Daniel Craig Bond is that you actually feel his every cut, scrape, and bruise, because he's actually feeling them, too. He is truly the best Bond, the most highly-nuanced Bond, and yet still the Bond with the most mass appeal. In a time of the antihero (e.g. The Dark Knight), Craig adds his historic character to the mass of new additions and modern revamps. He's the hero, but is he always doing right? Is he truly a good guy? Or is he a bad guy working for the good guys? Whatever the case, you're rooting for him, because you know that at least in the end all will be right and he will help us get there.

That said, Quantum is not the most intelligent spy thriller out there today. It does not have a very compelling conflict. The badie is not much worse than a lot of corporate bigwigs today. Maybe this makes it all more "realistic," but not more entertaining. And, while the lead bad guy is more "realistic" and physically noncompetitive, Bond is still unmatched in physical and sexual dominance. The film tries to be more realistic without taking its lead along with it. You can tell that it is trying to match the "gritty realism" of contemporary action films because the camera is shaking violently, and you can hardly see any of the cool stunts that they set up (thanks, Bourne). In the first fight scene I could not for the life of me tell which running suit was which. I got it-- it is supposed to be "real." So then why is Bond still positively unmatchable?

I think Quantum loses its focus. Is it supposed to be an over-the-top escapist film, where someone fitter and better looking than us kicks everyone's ass and saves the girl? One where we never actually worry about whether or not he will win in the end because he always wins? Or, is it supposed to be an intelligent commentary on contemporary culture? A gritty look at the moral contradictions of an antihero? Can it really be all of these things at once, as it tries to be? I don't know if it can.

So, as far as intelligent revamps go, Quantum is not really one of them. But, it is a damn good action film. If my expectations were not so high after Casino, I might not have much to pick apart with this movie. It is a highly successful action film, with very entertaining and elaborate fight sequences. The pacing is much, much improved from Casino, and it is perhaps one of the most succinct action flicks in the past year. It does not dwell on the sappy sideplots, like its predecessor (a very welcome change for this reviewer). If there is one thing Quantum does not try to be, it is romantic, and this works well for developing Craig's Bond. He focuses on being brutal, cold, and ironic-- as James Bond was originally written. And this, ultimately, is a much more entertaining Bond-- even if it is not deeper.

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